Gary Neville has accused Liverpool stars Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak of being “too nice” after the pair struggled to make an impact in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle United.
The Manchester United legend has warned that patience will begin to wear thin unless Liverpool’s two most expensive signings start producing performances worthy of their enormous price tags.
Wirtz and Isak cost a combined £241million, with the Germany international arriving for £116m before Liverpool shattered the Premier League transfer record by spending £125m on the Swedish striker last year.
Expectations were inevitably huge, but neither player hit the anticipated heights during a disappointing debut campaign which saw Liverpool finish fifth and surrender their Premier League crown to Arsenal.
Their performances are now under renewed scrutiny following an underwhelming start to the new season at St James’ Park.
“The big thing for Liverpool is they’ve got a quarter-of-a-billion-pound front-two, Isak and Wirtz, and bloody hell we’ve been kind to them,” Neville said on his Gary Neville Podcast.
“They are going to have to start playing soon or else to be fair they’re going to get a lot of criticism. They’re going to have to start delivering.
“For a start they’re too nice and if you’re going to be nice, you better be incredible at football.”
Gary Neville has accused Liverpool stars Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak of being “too nice” after the pair struggled to make an impact in Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle United
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Neither was able to silence Neville during Liverpool’s Premier League opener.
Wirtz was withdrawn after 63 minutes despite the Reds requiring a goal, while Isak endured a difficult return to his former club following his acrimonious departure from Newcastle last year.
Neville believes both need to demonstrate greater aggression, although he reserved his strongest criticism for Wirtz.
“I don’t see a tenacity in Wirtz in particular – Isak maybe a bit more – but in Wirtz I just see a nice player moving around the pitch, not really ever looking like he’s busting a gut to do anything,” he added.
Alexander Isak had a day to forget in Liverpool’s draw with Newcastle
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The former England defender has been raising concerns about Wirtz for some time and believes the 23-year-old must rethink how he operates within Liverpool’s attack.
Rather than drifting into deeper areas, Neville wants him playing closer to Isak and becoming more decisive in the final third.
“You have players that are more graceful that just flow around the pitch – like [Mesut] Ozil and [Kai] Havertz] – but I want to put a rocket up him,” Neville continued.
“Sometimes I think he moves too much and isn’t close enough to his striker.
“Sometimes I don’t think he understands where the game is going to be won and lost.”
Neville insisted Wirtz should focus on becoming a second striker rather than operating as an additional midfielder, while developing a more productive partnership with Isak.
He remains convinced there is considerable talent in both players, particularly having witnessed Isak torment elite Premier League defenders during his Newcastle career.
But after giving Liverpool’s expensive duo time to settle, Neville believes excuses can no longer continue.
Florian Wirtz has failed to shine for Liverpool since arriving last year
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“They’ve got to improve,” he said. “I’m laying it on them now as I’ve watched them for 12 months but I have faith in them.”
His final message to Wirtz was particularly uncompromising.
“Wirtz needs to sort himself out. Enough is enough now,” he concluded.
Both players will get their next opportunity to answer Neville’s criticism when Liverpool host Nottingham Forest at Anfield on Saturday.
